crowell



4 Sheets-Sheet l.-

Paiented Dec. 20, |898.

L. c. cRowELL.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1892.)

(No Mndel.)

Patented Dec. 2o, |398.y L. c. cnowELL;

FULDING MACHINE.

(Application led Feb. 19, 1892.)

4 Sheets-Sheet?.

(No Mudel.)

me Nunms versus co, Puo-rauwe.. wAsmNGrcN, 0.a.

No. 6|,29o. Patented nec. 2o, |898.

L. C. CRWELL.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1892,) (No Model.) 4` sheets-sheet 3.

. j? Qtf/ No. 6I6,290. Patented Dec. 20, |898.

L. C. CRWELL.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1892.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

fille/M7572' Tn: Nonms 9:15a: co, Fumo-uma. wnsuhmon. o. c,

4Nirnn STATES v nuten.

PATENTv FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 616,290, datedDecember 20, 1898.

Application filed February 19, 1892. Serial No. 422,088. (No model.)

To ctlvwhom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, LUTHER C. CEOWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, (Brooklym) county of Kings, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of machines particularly designedto fold sheets of paper or other material. In this instance the machineis more especially adapted foruse as a part of a wrapping-machine, theobject being to impart folds to a sheet, either flat or preliminarilyfolded, fed to the machine automatically or by hand, and after foldingsuch sheet to deliver the same directly to the wrapping mechanism; butthe machine may obviously be used as a folding-machine irrespective ofsuch connection.

In a machine constructed in accordance with the invention in thepreferred form I provide a thin interior plate about which the sheetsare folded by suitable lapping-guides and which has a narrow edge whichdetermines the final line of fold of the sheet, and an exterior bearerfor coperating with the fold-forming edge of the interior plate toadvance the sheet longitudinally of said edge, and which exterior beareris preferably grooved to bend the sheet on the fold-line about thefold-forming edge of the interior plate. The interior plate ispreferably formed by a rotary disk or a plurality of such disks in line,and the exterior bearer is preferably formed bya corresponding number(one or more) of rotary disks or wheels, preferably grooved.

A feature of the invention is found in a guiding plate or plates betweenthe interior disks and forming with said disks an interior support forthe sheet. Another feature is the extensor-plate that prolongs the saidinterior support, so that the same shall be effective during the Wholefolding operation.

Other features ofthe invention are found in combinations of parts toofully hereinafter described and specifically claimed to need preliminarydescription.

In the drawings the principal illustrations are of one form of machineembodying the present improvements.

Figure l is a plan View thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation on the line2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the delivery-rollsomitted. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the folding operationand includes only such of the devices as are useful in aiding andunderstanding of the same. Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications of thefolding devices.

In order to obtain a ready understanding of this invention, theparticular embodiment of it in the primary folder shown in Figs. l to 4will first be described and thereafter the modifications thereof will beexplained, as well as the lnechanism of the secondary folder. Premisingthat the object is to impart longitudinal folds to a sheet of materialpassed through this machine, the devices thereof and their actionthereon will be ex plained in connection with a description of thepassage of a sheet through them.

The sheet to be operated upon, either unfolded or previously folded intoa pack as a signature, is while spread dat to its widthwise extent fedinto this machine by means of end less tapes 20 2O 2O 20, that extendfrom carrying rollers or pulleys 2l 22, the support of which they form apart being extended sufiiciently beneath the primary folder by means ofconductors 23 23 23 23, supported by cross-rods 24 25 to operate as abridge sustaining the ingoing sheet. A narrow feedroller 26 coperatesWith and is driven concertedly with its companion feed-roller 22 throughpinions 36 37, and its position is such that the sheet is fed by contactnear its central line, which limited feeding contact thus permits thesides of such sheet or folded pack to be upraised from a point more orless rearward of the feeding-nip of these rollers, and thus haveimparted to it a prelimiuaryshaping or incipient folding that enablesthe final lapping of its sides to be performed Without wrinkling,buckling,or crimpingthe material.

The roller 22 might be narrow like the roller 26, so far as its feedingfunction is concerned, in which case its tape-carrying parts would be inthe form of simple pulleys.

The primary folder comprises two alined terial and which have narrowedges for determining the line of fold of the sheet in substantially asingle line, and coacting with the fold-forming edges of said disks toadvance the sheet tangentially of said disks--that is, longitudinally ofthe portions of the edges of the disks engaging the sheet-are wheels 3233, preferably grooved, that bear upon the outside of the sheet on theline of doubling or folding, each disk and wheel reciprocallyconstituting a sheet-propelling mechanism that acts solely upon the lineof doubling or folding. Coacting with the propelling mechanism are sidelapping or turning guides 34 35, that cause the opposite sides of thesheet to be upturned and lapped or laid together. These guides arerespectively arranged on opposite sides of said disks 30 31 andpractically, when vertically considered, have their inner or facingsides parallel therewith, and they occupy such angles, horizontallyconsidered, that they will have one end extended within the plane oftravel of the sheet near its middle part to intercept the same and theiropposite ends raised high enough to cause the sides of the sheet tobeguided and sustained between them and said disks. The sheets as theyare advanced between the disks 30 and 31 and the wheels 32 and 33 willthus be folded about the disks 3() and 31, and the disks being t-hin andtheir edges being made very narrow, as before stated, as the sheets arefolded about such edges they will be folded at once on the line of thefinal fold of the sheet as it is advanced from the folder. The edges ofthe disks are thus iinal-fold-forming edges. These side-lapping guidesare preferably in the form of cones, whereby curved surfaces suited tothe work are presented for all por-V tions of the sheet during anyposition it assumes as the sheet travels onward and has its sidesgradually lifted from acentral point outward to its edges, so that thesesides are progressively turned upward and inward and until they finallystand in parallel vertical planes and substantially in contact in aposition for delivery, it may be, to a secondary folding apparatus, inwhich case the folded sheet stands su bstantially at right angles to thefolding mechanisms of the same. During this folding operation thedoubled edge of the sheet remains in the same horizontal plane in whichthe sheet has been fed, it being maintained interiorly by the edge ofthe disks 30 31 by a narrow guide-plate 11, extending between them, andby a narrow eXtensor-plate 13, projecting a distance beyond the disk 31,and exteriorly by the conductors, in part by the table 12, the latterconstituting a bridge upon which said doubled edge bears. d

The plate 11 is curved to conform with the edges of the disks 3031 andis hung in place by a bracket, and the plate 13, which is supported inlike manner, also hasits rear edge similarly shaped to conform with thedi-k 3l, and the two plates l1 and 13, with the disks, thus practicallyform a continuous narrowfold-forming edge on the inside for the line ofdoubling or folding, which extends far enough forward to perfectly coactwith the side-lapping guides 34 35. Beneath the plate 13 a narrow table12 is provided to form a support upon which the doubled edge of thesheet rests in a portion of its forward travel, said table beingpreferably provided for a suitable distance with a guiding groove 10, inwhich the doubled edge of the sheet runs. This table is secured by a rod71 and a bracket 72, and from it supportingstandards, as 73, rise tosustain the guides 34 35. The grooved wheel 32 is driven by the toothedwheel 45, while the grooved wheel runs freely and the disks 30 3l aredriven from the wheel 38 on the main shaft 8O through a train of wheels39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 4G, that gears with the wheel 37, whichmeshes with the wheel 36. The shaft of the latter carries a wheel 47,that drives the wheel 49 on the shaft of the disk 30 by means of anintermediate 48, and the wheel 49 in turn drives the wheel 51 on theshaft of the disk 31 through au intermediate 50. It will now beunderstood that the flat sheet or pack delivered to this machine by thetapes 2O will pass between the feed-rollers 26 22 and the disk 30 andgrooved wheel 32, and that its body portion, widthwise considered. or,in other words, the sides of the sheet considered as the major portionthereof on each side of its central point or line of fold, will beprevented from drooping o1' be guided by the conductors 23, so that itsthin or limp leading edge will be intercepted by the ends of the lappingguides 34 35 at points close to the said disk, and thereby cause itssides to ride up the inclined planes said guides form, and that as itscentral line of folding or doubling is confined to a horizontal plane oftravel by the edge of the disks 30 31 and guide-plates l1 13 its sideswill be bent upward, and that the bends in the sides of the sheet willbe made to such an extent that such sides will be upturned to a degreerearward of said disk, for the reason that the feeding-rolls offer noobstruction thereto, and hence that the preliminary conformation of orapproximation to the final folding will be formed without rupturing thepaper or causing it to crease, buckle, or break. As the sheet moves on-Award its central line or doubled edge will be confined to saidhorizontal plane by the edges of the disks and the plates 11 13, whileits sides will be gradually and progressively turned upward by theguides 34 35 until when it leaves the said guides and the plate 13 itwill be longitudinally folded in its center, with its sides practicallylaid together. In the folding operation thus performed and whereby theultimate disposition of the material constituting the fold-line isdirectly attained and undergoes no preliminary partial formation it willbe observed that that member which is inside of the fold must not onlybe as thin a disk or other shaped plate as is possible, but its bearingupon the line of- IOO IIO

' to the disk l as they are to the disk 30.

fold must be as near a knife-edge as can be maintained without severingthe paper. These are the conditions which produce a perfect fold-line,and consequently a doubled edge of minimum thickness or bulk. In thisfolding operation the bend of or doubled edge of the sheet will conformmore or le'ss, according to its thickness, to the groove in the wheels32 33, which, as shown, is quite wide as compared with the edge of theinterior disk, its smooth onward movement being thus aided in a mannerthat removes any cause for smutting or injury from dragging when thatpart of the paper is being bent laterally as well as moved onwardly, andthis double edge will be suitably embraced, supported, and guided in thegroove 10 as the sheet passes out of this primary folder.

It will now be obvious that if both the disks 30 3l and the groovedwheels 32 33 are driven they will cooperatively form a rotating pro-vpeller acting to drive or carry the sheet onward by contact with thatportion of it constituting its line of doubling or folding, the disksacting on the inside and the grooved wheels on the outside thereof.

Although itis desirable to employ the interior disks and exteriorgrooved wheels, as shown in Figs. l to 4, and to have one or all of boththe disks and grooved wheels driven, it is, however, only essential thatthe rotary or other moving member 011 one side of the sheet shall bedriven, and to coact with such driven'sheet propelling or ,drivingmember I may provide a stationary bearer or support for the other side fthe sheet on the foldline, and this driving member may be either the oneacting on the outside or the inside; but the surface of whichever memberis to Vact as a driver should be roughened, as' by being finely milledor draw-filed, and thev surface that is to act merely as a support orbearer should be made as smooth as possible. The form illustrated byFig. consists of a disk 1, adapted to be rotated as by a toothed wheel2. This disk will run on the inside of the line of doubling or folding,and like the disks 3l will have an eXtensor guide-plate 3, which issimilar to the plate 13. The disk in this instance is the driver orpropeller and has by preference a finely-milled or drawfiled edge,whichis thus made very slightly rounding. It will of course haveexterior cooperating side-lapping guides, which may be like those 34 35already described, and related The bearer or support for the outside ofthe line of doubling or folding consists in this example of a longnarrow plate 4, whose bearing edge is slightly curved to form a smoothchannel which will conform to the rounded form of a doubled or foldededge of paper, and its rear portion is slightly curved downward in ordernot to impede the smooth introduction of the paper.

rIn Fig. 6 the grooved wheels, as l l l, acting upon the outside of theline of doubling or folding, consitutes the propellers,while the supporton the inside of such line of doubling or folding is constituted by anarrow plate, as 7, the lower edge of which is rounded and made assmooth'as possible. Although one of these wheels l will successfullyoperate, especially when it is provided with a smooth grooved supportingplate or table similar to table l2 of the main views or the plate 4 ofFig. 5,it is preferable to provide a number of wheels of small diameter,asl l l, the grooves of which are preferably slightly milled. The plate,as 7, will have a curved end to cause the sheet to smoothly pass beneathit, and the wheels l l l will be driven by toothed wheels,as 2 2 2, orin any other suitable manner. In this construction there will beprovided side-lapping guides, as those 34 35 or of any other suitableform.

A single set of such devices as the foregoing will perfectly perform theoperation of folding sheets of suitable size; but when the sheets arelarger,and consequently longer,two or more propelling-disks, as 30 3l,with intervening smooth guide-plates, as 11, will be needed.

The secondary folder, which imparts alongitudinal fold parallel to thatgiven by the primary folder, may be of the same construction as theprimary folder. Asillustrated in Figs. l to 4, it consists of twohorizontallyarranged disks 61, hung in the branching arms of a bracket8l and rotated by means of wheels 62 63, and an intermediate 64 on avertical shaft 65, that is actuated by means of bevel-gears 66 67 fromthe main shaft 80, carrying the wheel 38. (loperating with these disksthere are horizontally-arranged grooved wheels 69 70, constructed andoperating in all respects like the wheels 32 33, which are supported onvertical shafts 78 7 9, journaled in the framework. These disks andgrooved wheels are so 'positioned that their contact with the sheetshall agree horizontally with the plane in which the sheet folded by theprimary folder travels, and their vertical position is the center orother predetermined point of the fold which shall be imparted to suchsheet." 'To a rod 74, which is alined in a plane slightly at one side ofthe vertical plane occupied by the folded sheet emerging from theprimary foldeir, a number of side-lapping guides 8 8 8 8 8 8 are securedand bent forward, inward, and laterally (see Fig. l) to suit thecurvature which a sheet will assume in being gradually folded by havingits sides bent toward each other and finally lapped while its centralportion orline of doubling is conined by the disks 60 61. It will now beunderstood that the sheet, folded longitudinally by the primary folderand emerging therefrom in a vertical plane, will, fed by the drivenfolding mechanism of the primary folder, be entered directly between thedisk 60 and grooved ICO IIO

wheel 69, with its central portion embraced thereby, and that as it ismoved onward by the disk GO and beyond the disk 61 its sides will beintercepted by the guides 8 S, and thereby gradually be turned towardeach other, and that this turning will be progressively advanced towardhorizontal planes until a lapping or folding is accomplished, while thedoubled edge of the sheet passes outward in a straight line onto thedisk Gl, between it and the wheel 70, and onto the extensor plate 75,(which is like the plate 13,) and, finally, that the sheet will bedoubled longitudinally, with its sides practically lapped together,embracing the plate 75. In this folded condition the sheet will beentered between the pressing-rollers 76 77 and be delivered. Theserollers are arranged to be positively rotated by means of a train ofwheels 82 S3 84 85 S6, the former being on the shaft of roller 77 andthe latter meshing with the Wheel 3S. As the sheet undergoing the finalfolding operation in the secondary folder has previously received one ormore folds, its double edge is sufliciently rigid to make it unnecessaryto interpose a throat-plate like 11 between the disks 60 61; but theeXtensor-plate 75 is desirable, so that the folded product shall reachthe pressing and delivery rollers in a true position for delivering, andno distortion shall result from the pressing action of such rollers.

This machine is adapted tol fold various widths of sheets or foldedpacks, and in order that the secondary folder may be adapted to impartits fold in any predetermined relation to the preceding fold all of itsfold-producing mechanisms are arranged to be adjusted to the appropriatevertical position. Thus the bracket 81, which supports the disks 60 (i1,their Wheels 62 63, and their driver 64;, which is splined on the shaft65, is arranged to slide in guides xed to the frame and provided with anadjusting screw shaft 16, 'whose threaded portion turns in a nut fixedto the bracket.

The grooved wheels G9 70 are adjustable on their shafts 7 8 7 9 byset-screws through their hubs, and the guides 8 are all adjustable onthe rod 74 by collars and set-screws, while ,the extensoiplate 75 hasits supporting end in like manner adjustable by a set-screw.

One disk, one grooved wheel, and one or both of the plates 11 13 maywith lappingguides be conjointly used where the nature of the work as toexactnessuwill permit it, as when a subsequent wrappin g operation makesit less necessary that accurate doubling shall be effected, and in thissame case the grooved wheel may be omitted. Thus the disk 31, wheel 33,and the forward ends of conductors 23 may be removed and the table 12and parts beyond be moved rearward, so that the disk 30 and wheel 32take the place of disk 3l and wheel 33, or vice versa.

What therefore is claimed is- 1. The combination of a thin interiorplate having a final-fold-forming edge about which the sheet is folded,an exterior bearer for cooperating with said fold-forming edge toadvance the sheet longitudinally of said foldforming edge, and 'exteriorside-lapping guides arranged to fold the sides of the sheet about saidplate as the sheet is advanced, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a thin interior plate having a tinal-fold-formingedge about which the sheet is folded, an exterior bearer for cooperatingwith said fold-forming edge to advance the sheet longitudinally of saidfoldforming edge, one or both of which members is driven rotatively, andexterior side-lapping guides arranged to fold the sides of the sheetabout said plate as the sheet is advanced, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a thin interior plate having a iinal-fold-formingedge about which the sheet is folded, an exterior bearer for cooperatingWith said fold-forming edge to advance the sheet longitudinally of saidfoldforming edge, one or both of which members is driven rotatively,andexterior side-lapping guides arranged to fold about said plate theportions of the sides of the sheet adjacent to the fold-line and then tocomplete the folding of said sides progressively as the sheet isadvanced, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a thin interior plate having a iinal-.fold-formingedge about which the sheet is folded, an exterior bearer having agrooved edge for coperatin g with said foldforming edge to advance thesheet longitudinally of said fold-forming edge, one or both of whichmembers is driven rotatively, and exterior side-lapping guides arrangedto fold the sides of the sheet about said plate as the sheet isadvanced,substantially as described.

5. The combination of an interior disk having a final -fold -formingedge, an exterior' bearer for cooperating with said fold-forming edge toadvance the sheet, one or both of which members is rotatively driven,and eX- terior side-lapping guides arranged to fold the sides of thesheet about said disk as the sheet is advanced, substantially asdescribed.

G. The combination of an interior disk having a final-fold-forming edge,an exterior bearer for coperating with said fold-formin g edge toadvance the sheet, one or both of which members is rotatively driven, anarrow plate extending beyond said disk, and exterior side-lappingguides arranged in vertical planes substantially parallel with the sidesof said disk and said plate to fold the sides of the sheet about saiddisk and said plate as the sheet is advanced, substantially asdescribed.

7. A folding mechanism consisting of an interior disk, a cooperatingexterior grooved Wheel, side-lapping guides arranged in vertical planessubstantially parallel with the sides of said disk and angularlyarranged with respect to the disk with their receiving ends projectingbelow the periphery of the disk so as to intercept the sides of thesheet near the fold-forming point,substantia1ly as described.

8. The combination with a thin interior plate over which the fold-lineis formed, an exterior bearer cooperatin g therewith in forming thefold-line, one or both of which members is driven rotatively, andside-lapping guides on opposite sides of said interior plate, offeeding-rollers for forwarding the sheet to be folded, the upper one ofwhich feedingrollers bears only centrally upon the sheet, wherebyprovision is made for the upward bending of the sides of the sheet intaking the direction of folding, and a sheet support or bridge extendingfrom the lower feedingroller to said plate and bearer, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with a thin interior plate over which the fold-lineis formed, an exterior bearer cooperating therewith in forming thefold-line, one or both of which members is driven rotatively, andside-lapping guides on opposite sides of said interior plate, offeeding-rollers for forwarding the sheet to be folded, the upper one' ofwhich feedingrollers bears only centrally upon the sheet, wherebyprovision is made for the upward bending of the sides of the sheet intaking the direction of folding, a sheet support or bridge extendingfrom the lower feedingroller to said plate and bearer and a plateextending beyond the disk and bearer to guide the folded sheet,substantially' as described.

10. The combination with interior disks 30, 3l, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating fold line-forming membersone or both being driven, of sidelapping guides arranged on oppositesides of said disks and `intercepting the sides of the sheet near thefold-forming point, a narrow plate extending beyond the disk 30 and asheet-support extending beneath said disks and plate, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating fold line-forming membersone or both being driven, of sidelapping guides arranged on oppositesides of said disks and intercepting the sides of the sheet near thefold-forming point, a narrow plate extending beyond the disk 30, asheetsupport extending beneath said disks and plate, feeding-rollers foradvancing the sheet to be folded, and conductors extending from saidrollers to the disk 30, substantially as described.

12. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating foldline-forming membersone or both being driven, side-lapping guides arranged on opposite sidesof said disks, a narrow plate 11 extended between the disks 30, 31, aplate 13 extending beyond the disk 31 and a sheet-support beneath saidplates 11 and 13, substantially as described.

13. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating fold -line -formingmembers one or both being driven, side-lapping guides arranged onopposite sides of said disks, a narrow plate l1 extended between thedisks 30, 31, a plate 13 extending beyond the disk 31, a sheet-supportbeneath said plates 11 and 13, feeding-rollers for advancing the sheetto be folded, and conductors extending from said rollers to the disk 30,substantially as described.

14. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating foldline -forming membersone or both being driven, side-lapping guides arranged in verticalplanes substantially parallel with said disks and operating to interceptthe sides of the sheet near the fold-forming point, a narrow plate 11extended between the disks 30, 31, and a sheetsupport beneath saidplate, substantially as described.

15. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating fold-line-forming membersone or both being driven, side-lapping guides arranged in verticalplanes substantially parallel with said disks and operating to interceptthe sides of the sheet near the fold-forming point, a narrow plate 11extended between the disks 30, 31, a sheet-support beneath saidplate,feedingrollers for advancing the sheet to be folded, andconductors extending from said rollers to the disk 30, substantially asdescribed.

16. The combination with interior disks 30, 31, and exterior bearersalined therewith and constituting cooperating fold-line-forming membersone or both being driven, side-lapping guides arranged in verticalplanes substantially parallel with said disks and operating to interceptthe sides of the sheet near the fold-forming'point, a narrow plate 11extended between the disks 30, 31, a plate 13 extended beyond the disk31, a sheet-support beneath said plate, a cooperating table 12 andfeeding-rollers and conductors, substantially as described.

17. The combination of an exterior disk as l 31, guiding extensor-plateas 13, and a table provided with a guiding-groove as 10, an exteriorgrooved Wheel as 33 and side-lapping guides, substantially as described.

18. The combination of an interior disk, guiding-plate 11,extensor-plate 13, a table provided with a guiding-groove 10, anexterior grooved wheel-and side-lapping. guides, substantially asdescribed.

19. The combination of a plurality of interior rotative disks havingfinal-fold-forming edges, corresponding exterior grooved wheels forcooperating with said disks to advance the sheet, and exteriorside-lapping guides arranged in vertical planes substantially parallelwith the sides of said disks to fold the sides of the sheet about saiddisks, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a plurality of interior rotative disks havingiinal-'fold-forrning edges, corresponding exterior grooved wheels forcooperating with said disks to advance IOO IIO

the sheet, guide-plates interposed between said disks, and exteriorside-lapping guides arranged in vertical planes substantially parallelwith the sides of said disks to fold the sides of the sheet about saiddisks, substantially as described.

21. The combination of a plurality of interior rotative disks havingiinal-fold-forming edges, corresponding exterior grooved Wheels forcooperating with said disks to advance the sheet, one or moreguide-plates l1 interposed between said disks, extensor-plate 13, andexterior side-lapping guides arranged in vertical planes substantiallyparallel with the sides of said disks to fold the sides' of the sheetabout said disks, substantially as described.

LUTHER C. CROVVELL.

Witnesses:

H. T. MUNsoN, T. F. KEHOE.

